The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-26
STRIDES OF THE SOUTH.
MIDSUMMER PUT NO CHECK ON
ITS WONDERFUL PROGRESS.

The General Volume of Business In
New Enterprises OF Various Charac-
ters-Many States Boring for Natu-
raj Gas-Gold Mining on Boom.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, Sept. 25.-The
Tradesma,,, in its quarterly review of the
Southern industrial situation, says: The
last three months, although embarrassing,
the midsummer period, shows no cessation
in the wonderful industrial development in
all sections of the South. While specula-
tion has been restricted, material growth
has correspondingly increased, and reports
TO the Trddesmdn from the commercial and
industrial centres of the South betoken a most
gratifying condition of affairs. Crops every
where in the South are above the average,
and the general volume of business is in
creased. Up to fortnight ago money was
easy, and, while collections are somewhat
slower now, the movement of the crops will
improve the financial situation.
INDUSTRIES VERY ACTIVE.
The Industrial situation is very active,
and manufacturers are crowded with
orders and the largest iron works are
running on double time, railroad build
ing in active progress in many of
the Southern States, and rolling mills
in Chattanooga and Birmingham have
orders for months ahead. Returns from
Southern cotton mills show an important
Improvement, the consumption of cotton
having increased over 10000 bales in the
past twelve months, or nearly So per cent.
The total number of mills up to Sept /, 1887,
was 2i9; the number of spindles, 1,2l3,3i6;
the number of looms, 1868; and the cotton
al hall NavU
companies are being rapidly formed. In the
past three months thirty-two new factories
have been organized, divided as follows:
Alabama 3, Arkansas l, Georgia 2, LOUIS
lana 2, North Carolina 12, South Carolina 8,
Tennessee ., Texas Z.
PLENTY OF COKE.
Southern ironmasters have been greatly
perplexed over the scarcity of coke, but this
problem is being solved by important de-
velopments in this branch. In the past
three months twelve coke companies have
been formed, four in Alabama, four in Ten,
nessee, two in Virginia and two in West
Virginia, and many others are in process OF
formation.
Work is rapidly progressing on the new
blast furnaces in process of erection in the
South. In the past quarter eleven new fur
mace companies were organiZed-five in
Georgia, three in Mississippi, one in Ten
nessee, one in Virginia and one in West
Virginia.
One of the features of the past quarter
has been the remarkable development in
gold and silver mining, much attention
being paid to this industry, and vastly inn
proved methods of mining have been
adopted In the past three months fifteen
smelling works have been erected in Arkan-
sas, and thirty-o mining and quarrying
companies formed In all the Southern States.
SEEKING NATURAL GAS.
Much capital is being expended in search
for natural gas, none has been found in
paying quantities but prospectors are greatly
encouraged In the past quarter 81 natural
gas and oil companies have been formed-in
Alabama, 3; iD.Arkansas,s -; in Kentucky, 8;
in Tennessee, 8; in Texash and in Virginia.
In the past quarter e. woodworking es-
Establishments have been formed In the South,
exclusive of sawmills, as follows: In Ala
bama o. Arkansas TO- Florida 1, Georgia
TO- Kentucky 4, Louisiana 3, Mississippi 8,
North Carolina 49, South Carolina l, Ten
nessee o, Texas /, Virginia 3, and West Vir-
ginia 3.
Eighty-seven railroad companies have
been incorporated in the past three months,
of which Alabama has 9, Arkansas 12, Flor
ida 8, Georgia 21, Kentucky 4. Louisiana 2,
Mississippi q North Carolina D, South Caro-
lima 1, Tennessee 10, Texas z, Virginia and
West Virginia 5.
MISCELLANEOUS COMPANIES.
Among the general companies formed
during the past quarter are 20 brick works,
26 electric light works, 81 street railway
companies, and 20 foundry and machine
shops They are pretty evenly divided
among all the States.
Five glass factories have been organized,
2 in Alabama, 9 in Tennessee and in Geor-
gia. great diversity of other industries
has been formed, among them As -four and
grist mills, of which IA we.'e in North Car
olina and II in Texas; steel works L; saw
flills, 81; waterworks companies, 20; coal
and ore mines and quarries, 1885, miscella-
neous, including land and development COM
panies and minor industries, 133.